Car depreciation calculator for South Africa
Depreciation is usually the biggest cost of owning a car, and the one you only feel when you sell. See what your car could be worth over the next seven years, and what it costs you per month.
Why depreciation matters more than you think
A car that loses R60,000 a year costs you R5,000 a month before you've bought a litre of fuel or paid a premium. That's often more than fuel, insurance and servicing combined, especially in the first three to five years. Comparing two cars on monthly instalment alone hides it: the cheaper car to finance can be the more expensive one to own.
Check the full monthly picture in a free car report (finance, fuel, insurance, servicing and tyres), work out what a car costs in fuel, or see what you can afford to finance.
Depreciation questions
How fast do cars depreciate in South Africa?
Most cars lose value fastest in the first few years: many popular models lose roughly 40 to 55% of their new price within five years, while some bakkies and SUVs hold their value noticeably better. The exact curve depends on the model, mileage, condition and what the market wants at the time. Use the calculator to see the projected path for a specific car.
How does this depreciation calculator work?
It uses the same South African price data as every RideReport report (verified price anchors plus year-by-year and mileage curves for each vehicle segment). To project the future it asks what a car that many years older, with about 13,000 km more per year, is worth today, then smooths the result so a car never gains value. It is a modelled estimate, not a forecast of the future market.
Which costs more per month: depreciation or fuel?
For most cars depreciation is the single biggest cost of ownership, often bigger than fuel, insurance or servicing, especially in the first three to five years. It is easy to miss because it only shows up when you sell. The calculator shows it as a monthly figure so you can compare it with the rest of your running costs.
How can I reduce depreciation?
Buy a model with strong resale demand, avoid heavy options that don't hold value, keep a full service history, keep mileage reasonable for the age, and consider buying a car that has already taken its first big drop in value (two to four years old) instead of new.
How do I find the exact value of my car today?
The calculator works from model, year and mileage. For the official trade and retail value of your exact car by registration number, use RideReport's Official valuation (R79).